Can-labeling machine



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. ALBERT. GAN LABELING MACHINE.

Patented Oct.y 6, 1891.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

HALBERT. GAN LABELING MAGHINE. No. 460,738. Patented Oort. 6, 189.1.

, (No Model.) 6 Sheets-fSheet 3.

H. ALBERT., l GAN LABBLING MACHINE. No. 460,738. Patented Oct; 6, 1891.

(No Modem l 6 sheets-sheet 4.

v H. ALBERT.

GAN LABBLING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 6, 1891.

me News PETERS co., moro-umu., wAsHmcrron, D. c.

@sheets-sheets.

(No Model.)

H ALBERT GAN LABELING MACHINE.v

No. 460,733. Patented 001;. 6,1891.

lh l @HM (No Model.) 6 sheets-sheet 6,

H. ALBERT.

-GAN LABBLING MACHINE. No. 460,738. Patented Oct. 6, 1891.

FIG 8- ,if ed j XY @l -l ef A w f l I- Z' @L/i5@ I .UNrTnD STATES PATENTOFFICE.

H ENR'Y ALBERT, OF CRESCENT CITY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO THOMAS R.HAYES, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-LABELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,738, dated October6, 1891.

' Application tiled January I3, 1891. Serial No. 377,656. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY ALBERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Crescent City, Del Norte county, State of California,

have invented an Improvement in Can-Labeling Machines; and I herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame.

My invention relates to the general class of ro can-labeling machines,and especially to machines of this class in which a reciprocatingcau-puller and pasting mechanism operates within a runway, asexemplified in the machine shown and described in my patent, No. i5445,418, granted January 27, 180i. y

My invention consists in certain improvements upon my former machine,and the novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements hereinafterfully described, and zo specifically pointed out in the claims.

The general object of my invention' is to provide a simple and eifectivemachine for labeling cans, and which can be readily adjusted to suit therequirements of different sizes of cans.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanationof my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of my machine. Fig. 2 isa vertical lon gitndinal Section of same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section in.the plane of the paste-platens and an elevation of the locks. Fig. etare plan views showing the lock and the mechanism thereof. Fig. 5 is anelevation of the interior of one side of the runway and one side of thecan-puller. Fig. 6 is a section of the paste-receptacle shown on frame Band a small perspective view of one end of the paste-rolls. Fig. 7 is aplan of frame B. Fig. 8 is across-section 4o of the4 frame A, pieces X,and can-runway.

Fig. 8* is a detail shownig the controlling device.

A is the frame of the machine having a runway a on its top. Vithin thisrunway is adapted to be reciprocated a frame. B, which carries thepaste-containing vessel C and which has hinged to its front portion thecanpuller D. The frame BY is mounted in the runway by means ofoutwardly-extending 5o slide-pins b, which fit and move freely 1nextended slots or tracks a in the sides of the runway. Its movement iseffected by the foilowing mechanism:

E is a shaft having on one or both ends suitable driving mechanism-suchas a crank or crank-wheel, fly-wheel, or belt-pulley-and at its center acrank e.

F is a rod upon which are freely swung or pivoted the angle-levers f,the long arms of which extend downwardly and are formed 6c int-o forksf', which embrace and play in bearings in the outer ends of arms b',connected with the slide-pinsof the frame B. Between thedownwardly-extending or longer arms of the angle-levers f is a rod f2,from .which a connecting-rod e extends to the -crank c of shaft E. Nowby rotating shaft E 'the frame B will be reciprocated in the runway, andits stroke may be varied by making lthe cross-rod f2 adjustable in theswinging 7 leversf, as is shown, by fitting its ends in lelongated slotsf3 therein.

The receptacle C for the paste consists of a lsuitable vessel, which ismounted upon the vframe B in any proper manner.

IVithin this receptacle is a lower roller c and an upper roller c', bothof said rollers being mounted transversely of the vessel and in endgrooves or slides, whereby they can be readily removed 'and may rest inperfect contact with each 8c other.

The upper roller c is formed with a grooved periphery, as shown, thegrooves extending circumferentially and throughout the v entire lengthot' the roller. A scraper c2 acts upon the upper roller c to remove t-hesurplus paste.

The can-puller D consists of two side plates havin grearwardly-extending arms, which are pivoted to the forward end of theframe, as shown. Between these plates is carried the 9o toppressure-roller (l, the ends of which are mounted in sliding boxes CZ,held down by springs cl2, whereby said roller is enabled to exert apressure upon the top of the can and at the same time yield to anyinequalities in the surface upon which it bears. The sliding boxes arethemselves mounted in adjustable bearings or blocks cl3, mounted in thesides and adjusted by means of screws (Z4, whereby the primary positionof the .pressure-roller roo can be determined. Upon the inner surface ofthe side plates of the can-puller are the small rollers d5, which, whenthe puller-frame is dropped down upon the can, bear on said can neareach end and roll and guide it along. These small rollers are renderedadjustable to-suit dierent sizes of cans by being carried on movableblocks d, operated by screws d?, and they are arranged diagonally orconverging downwardly. This inclined position is of advantage, becausein etlecting the change in position or adjustment of the rollers theywill bear properly upon any.sized can and keep it in the center of thecanpnller under the pressure-roller.

As in my former machine, it is intended that the can-puller in advancingtoward the can shall rise to a higher plane in order to drop down uponthe can and to avoid the triggers of the locks, and shall then pull thecan forwardly in the machine, and to this end the construction of therunway is substantially similar to that shown in my former machine. Abrief description, therefore, will only be needed for my presentapplication.

The can-puller is provided on each side with rollers which travel in thetrack-grooves or slots a of the runway. In the sides of the runway arethe upper track-grooves a3. Near one end these grooves communicate by aswitch-bar d, one on each side and pivoted at a, so that they mayswing.The lower end of the switch-bar lies normally upon the lowertrack-groove a', its point being flush therewith, while its upper endextends beyond its pivot and rises above the level of the uppertrack-groove. At their other ends the two track-grooves communicate by agroove a6. Now when the can-puller is moving toward the can its rollersd* travel in the lower grooves a until they reach the switch-bars a".TheyT then travel up on these switch-bars and reach the level of theupper track-grooves a3, thereby swin ging the whole can-pullertoa planehigher than that in which the can itself lies. The rollers d4, passingthe pivotal point a5 of the switch-bars, travel upon the upper extendedend of said bars, and thereby raise their lower ends from the lowertrack grooves, thus opening said grooves for the passage of the slidebars or pins of the following frame B,

and even though the rollers d4 pass off of.

the extensions of the switch-bars said bars do not drop down:immediately to their normal position, as their lower ends are held upby means of supporting-bars b2 on the sides ot' the frame .13, so thatsaid frame passes in the lower track-grooves without interference fromthe switch-bars. As soon as the frame is passed the switch bars dropdown to their normal position. W hen the can-puller reaches the can, itsrollers (Z4 drop down through the communicating grooves a into the lowertrack-grooves, and thus the canpuller drops down upon the can, its smallrollers diitting in front and behind it at each end and the top rollerpressing upon it, thereby fully insuring its rolling action. On thereturn stroke the frame B and can-puller travel in the lowertrackgrooves, rolling the can along.

G is an inclined feedchannel for the cans, by which they aresuccessively directed into the feed end of the runway In this end of therunway is the controlling device for feeding the cans one at a time.This consists of a swinging frame H, controlled by an under lying springh. In the top of this frame is fitted adj ustably a bent stop-armh,which can be moved and set forward or back to suit the requirements ofdifferent cans. This is accomplished by mounting it in its trame, sothat it can slide, and setting it by a screw. In its normal position thespring holds the bent arm up directly in the path of the can, which inthis position lies exactly under the point at which the can-pullerdescends upon it, and when the can-puller engages it it sirnply pullsthe can forward, therebydepressing the spring-controlled stop-arm, whichallows' the can to pass over it, but immediately springs up again tolimit and stop the next can.

I is the label-box extending downwardly directly under the runway of themachine,its top being open and communicating therewith. In the box is avertically-movable bottom fi, which carries the pile of labels. Thebottom is held up, with its pile of labels, to proper place for thereception by the uppermost label of the paste by means of the weight Wacting on the stem t" of the bottom by means of a cord and pulleys, asshown, and in a similar manner to the device shown in my previousmachine.

Now, in order to form a stop for the labelpile to hold them exactly inthe place desired and yet relieve the topmost one, I have the followinglocks or holders: l

.I are the locks or holders, consisting of bars extending into therunway from each side and projecting over the top of the label-pile.There are four or' more of these, ltwo being shown near each end,one ateach side of the label-pile. They are carried each in a frame j, havingend guides j', in which said lockingbars are adapted to have both anup-anddown movement and a forward-and-back movement. In the framej ismounted vertically a shaft j2, controlled by a spring jl, the lower endof this shaft passing through an elongated slot j in the locking-bars,whereby said bars have their movement uninterfered with by the shaft.Upon the shaft is carried a cam j, which engages the locking-bars bymeans of fitting its eccentric rim in guidesj, provided withanti-frictional rolls. This cam is so fashioned that its first effectupon being rotated is to raise the locking-bar bodily and its nexteifect is to move it longitudinally. The cam-shafts are operated bymeans of trigger-bars jl, pivoted to the top of the frame and havingtheir inner ends extended into the path of travel of the can-pullersides. These triggers have their outer ends formed with or provided withtoothed segments j, which engage with corresponding tooth disks orpinions j on the cam-shafts. The operation of these locks or holds is asfollows: Normally the locking-bars .I overlap and hold Thesupporting-bar is provided with a guide- Ato be given to the platens.

down the label-pile. Now when the canpuller is moving forward with a canthe forward ends of the sides of the can-puller first come in contactwith the trigger-bars of the first pair of locks, thereby operating thecams and effecting first the elevation of the locking-bars and thentheir withdrawal, so that that end of the'label-pile is relieved, and atthis moment the can reaches the end of the label-pile and picks up theend of the topmost label. As soon as the trggenbars Aare relieved by thesides of the can-puller the springs ji return the first pair of locks toposition upon the next label. The can-puller then comes in contact withthe trigger-bars of the second pair of locks and operates them in thesame way, and upon being relieved the locking-bars return and hold thatend of the label-pile. The object of the rising movement of thelocking-bars is to carry them to a plane sufficiently high to insuretheir return upon the labels without danger of catching the edges of thelabel-pile. These locking mechanisms being carried wholly by the framesj, enables me to readily adjust their position to suit different lengthsof labels. This is accomplished by bolting the frames in elongatedslots, as shown, whereby they can be moved to different positions.

^ The labels are supplied with paste by the following means: O arepasting-heads. There are two of these, one at each end ofa-supporting-bar 0, and they lie directly'- over and transversely of theends of the label-pile.

stem 0', extending upwardly through a suitable guide 02, carried by aframe 03, and having a lifting-spring 04 about its upper end. Thepasting-heads are depressed by means of the lever P, pivoted to an armof the rod E and connected 'by a rod p with a cross-rod p,- extendingbetween the shortarms of the levers f. Now by the operation of the shaftE the pasting-heads are depressed and are allowed to rise under thepower of the spring. The time of this movement is such that just afterthe can puller has rolled its can over. the label-pile the platens begintheir descentv` until they press upon the ends of the topmostA label andsupply said ends with paste. Then, as the can-puller returns thepasting-heads rise out of the way of the pressure-roller of thecan-puller, which passes under them while the can-puller sides pass oneach side. The amount of pressure of t-he pasting-heads upon4 the vlabelends is nicely regulated and varied by making an adjustable connectionbetween the lever P and the connecting-rod p. The rodpasses through arocking bearing p2 in the lever and has upon its lower end a nut p3,which, by being set up or down, effects the contact with the lever atdifferent times, thereby providing for varying the pressure This sameresult can be effected by rendering the cross-rod p adjustable, asshown, in the short arms of the levers j'. Upon the end of the lever Pis the counterbalance-weight XV', the object of which is to balance theplatens and their connected parts, and thus permit the use of acomparatively light spring for the purpose of raising the platens.

The pasting-heads are supplied with paste bythe contact with their undersurfaces of the upper paste-roller c in the 'paste-receptacle..

The upper limit of movement of the pasting-heads is such that thepaste-roller passes forward and back directly under and in contact withtheir under surfaces. f'

Although the upper roller c in the pastereceptacle might have a smoothsurface, there is an advantage in forming it with a grooved surface, asdescribed, in that it is not only better supplied itself with paste fromthe lower roller, but also better transfers the paste to the undersurface of the pastingheads in anumber of tine parallel lines, whichfurnish a sufiicient quantity, and Which, when pressed down upon thelabel, spread out to provide just enough, thereby avoiding the squeezingout of the paste. l

The action of the pasting-head on the label ends is peculiar and ofgreat advantage. When the pasting-head comes down upon the end of thelabel, it supplies it with paste, and then upon rising from said end thelabel adheres to the pasting-head; but as the lockbars hold the labeldown the free end must describe a short arc of a circle in attempting tofollow the pasting-head, so that the end rubs or draws over the surfaceof the pastinghead in the manner of a brush, and has its paste moreperfectly spread and also distributed to the very edge of the label. Itis not essential, therefore, that the pasting-head shall come in contactwith the label in the iirst instance at its very end, and by beingremoved slightly therefrom avoids any lia` bility of putting any pasteupon thel next label below.

Q is a discharge-chute for the cans. A t the end of the cam-ledge a2,just before reaching the discharge-chute, I have a slight inclined planedi, the object of which is to raise the can at that point under thepressure-roller, thereby producing a slightly-increased pressure, which,as it takes place over the lap of the label, is of advantage in insuringthe proper adhesion of said lap. v

On each end of the movable bottom 'L' of the label-box is placed theinclined plane t2, the object of which is to raise the ends of the labela little, for two purposes-namely, to better insure the pressure of thepastingheads and so getting the paste upon them and the placing of thelabel ends in proper position to be picked up by the body of the canwithout interference by the raised portions or 'beads formed by theheads of the can.

l have adapted Ylny present machine to pro vide for different sizes ofcans by means of adjustments to be given to all the parts which mayrequire them for this purpose. The first IOO ITC

adjustment is naturally the variation in the width of the runway toprovide for different sizes of cans. This adjustment is accomplished asfollows: The runway is formed by side pieces, and these are carried bysupportingpieces X, which areY mounted upon the frame A in such a mannerthat they can be moved to or from each other to vary the width of therunway. This movement is effected by means of the right and left handscrews at each end of the'machine connected by pinions a," with alongitudinal shaft m2, having a hand-wheel :113. The side pieces of therunway have a minor adjustment of their own on the supporting-pieces Xby means of the slotted plates and screws Y, which provide accuratelyfor the can-ledges a2. The frame 03, guiding the pasting-head stem o',is also adjustable b y the slots and thumb-screws, as shown, and thepasting-heads O are tted removably and ad justably upon thesupporting-bar o by sliding thereon to provide for different lengths oflabels and for the substitution of others for diiferent widths oflabels. The locks being carried by the adjustable pieces X, move withsaid pieces, and as the sides of the can-puller move to or from eachother it is only necessary to substitu te a different length ofpressure-roller. The sides of Athe label-boxes are carried by themovable pieces X, and are thereby adjusted, 'and an* other bottom ofsuitable size is to be substituted when the box is varied.

The general operation of the machine may be thus brieflydescribed: Thecausare placed in the feed-chute G, and are stopped and relieved one byone by the bent arm h. Starting the machine the frame B and can-pullermove back, and the latter rises to its upper plane. The paste-roller cpasses under and supplies the elevated platens with paste. At the end ofthe stroke the can-puller drops upon the foremost can. On the forwardmovement the can is rolled along. The pasteroller again passes under thestill elevated pasting-heads, and the can-puller following releases thelocks. The can rolls upon the topmost label, the end of which has beenpreviously supplied with paste, and picks up said label,which, as thecan rolls,winds about said can and is pressed evenly by thepressureroller. The first pair of locks returns to hold the label-pileand the second pair is released, so that the can picks up the otherpasted end of the label, which is now fully applied. Then the Secondlocks return and the pasting-heads now descend and apply paste to theends of the next label and at once rise again. The labeled can is nowdischarged and the operation is repeated. The ends of the labels may bemoistened in any suitable manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a can-labeling machine, the reciprocating frame in the runway, incombination with the means for operating it, consisting of thecrank-shaft, the slotted swinging levers f, the lower forked ends ofwhich freely engage the frame on each side, the cross-rod of said leversadjustably connected with the slotted portions thereof,whereby thestroke of the frame is varied, and the connecting-rod between saidcross-rod and crank-shaft, substantially as herein described.

2. In a can-labeling machine, a reciprocating frame and means foroperating the same, the can-*puller pivotally connected with said frameand having in its sides the small rollers carried by sliding boxesmovable on inclined downwardly-converging lines, whereby they areadapted to bear on differentsized cans and hold them centrally, andmeans for adjusting the boxes, substantially as here` in described.

In a can-labeling machine, the can-pnller consisting of side pieces, anadjustable spring controlled pressure -roller mounted transverselybetween said sides, the sliding boxes d', adjustable blocks d3, carryingthe boxes, and the adjustable bearing rollers movable on inclined linesto suit differentsized cans and center them under the presserroller,substantially as herein described.

et. In a can-labeling machine, the runway having the lower and uppertrack-grooves and the swinging switch-bars by which said groovescommunicate, in combination with the frame B and swinging can-puller D,traveling in said grooves and having the rearward extensions to whichthe frame is pivotally secured, and the side supporting-bars b2 of theframe, on which the ends of the switch-bars rest when the frame ispassing under them, substantially as herein described.

5. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of thevertically-reciprocating pasting` heads adapted .to descend upon theends of the labels and the locking-bars extending into the runway fromeach side and projecting over the top of the label-pile for holding thelabels down, whereby when the heads rise the ends of the labeltemporarily adhering to them brush over them in the act of separation,substantially as herein described.

6. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of a reciprocating framehaving a pastecarrier connected therewith, the verticallyreciprocatingpasting-heads adapted to supply the labels with paste, a rock-shaft andsystem of levers operated by the passage of the frame for raising theheads, and a means forlowering the heads, substantially as hereindescribed.

7. In a can-labeling machine, the combination ofvertically-reciprocating pasting-heads adapted to descend upon andsupply the ends of the labels with4 paste, a rock-shaft, pivoted leversbetween said shaft and heads for raising the latter, a travelingpaste-carrying roller moving under and in contact with said heads whenraised to supply them with paste, and a scraper acting on said roller toremove the IKO surplus paste, substantially as herein described.

8. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of thevertically-reciprocating pastingheads adapted to descend upon and supplythe ends of the labels wit-h paste, the reciproeating frame B, thepaste-vessel thereon, the grooved roller c in said vessel passing underand in contact with the`heads when raised, and a rock-shaft and systemof levers between the pasting-heads and reciprocating frame, wherebyboth move in unison, substantially as herein described.

9. In a can-labeling machine, the pastingheads, the supporting-bartherefor, and the stem of said bar, in combination with the means forraising and lowering the heads, consisting of the spring', the pivotedlever engaging the stem, the shaft F, having an arm to which the leveris pivoted, the swing'- in g levers f, the rod connected with theswinging levers, and the adjustable connection between said rod and thepivoted lever, whereby the stroke of the heads is varied, substantiallyas herein described.

10. In a can-labeling machine, the pastingheads, the supporting-bartherefor, and the stem of said bar, in combination with the means forraising and lowering the heads, consisting of the spring, the pivotedlever engaging the stem, the shaft F, having an arm to which the leveris pivoted, the swinging levers f, the adjustable cross-rod between saidlevers, and the rod connecting the crossrod with the pivoted lever,substantially as herein described.

1l. In a can-labeling machine, the pasting-l f, having the cross-bar,and the rod connecting said cross-bar with the pivoted lever,substantially as herein described.

12. In a can-labeling machine, the reciproeating frame B and attachedcan-puller and the reciprocating heads with supporting bar and stem, incombination with their operating mechanism, consisting of thecrank-shaft, the swinging angle -levers f, engaging the frame sides, therod connectingthe crankshaft with said levers, the pivoted leverengaging the stem of the head, a shaft having an arm to which the leveris pivoted, the rod connecting said lever with the angle-levers, and thespring on the stem, substantially as herein described.

13. In a can-labeling machine, the reciprocating can-puller having thepressure-roller, in combination with the can-runway having thecan-ledges c2 and the inclined planes at the discharge end of saidledges for raising the can to effect increased pressure of the roller,substantially as herein described.

14.1In a can-labeling machine, the feedstop mechanism for the cans,consisting of the swinging spring-controlled frame in the canfeed-chute, having the bent stop-plate tted thereto and movable forwardor back thereon to adjust it for different-sized cans, substantially asherein described. l5. I'n a can-labeling machine, the swingingspring-controlled frame in the can feed-chute,

having the bent stop-arm, in combination with the vcan-puller adapted tofit down over a can and pull it forward over the yielding stoparm,'substantially as herein described.

p I6. In acan-labeling machine, the locks for the label-pile, consistingof the movable'lockbars overlapping the pile, the cams 4engaging saidbars for raising and withdrawing them, the cam-shafts, the springsthereon, the trigger-bars, and the gears connecting said trigger-barswith the cam-sh afts, substantially as herein described.

17. In a can-labeling machine, the locking device for the label-pile,consisting of theadj ustable frames, the locking-bars mounted andmovable therein, the cams engaging the locking-bars for raising andwithdrawing them, the trigger-bars and connections with the cams foroperating them one way, and the springs for returning them,substantially as herein described.

18. In a can-labeling machine, the runway, the label-box communicatingtherewith, and the reciprocating can-puller in the runway, incombination with the locking-bars for holding the label-pile down, thecams "for raising and withdrawing said locking-bars, the trigger-barsprojecting into the path of the canpuller, connections between thetrigger-bars and the cams for operating them one way,'and the springsfor returning them, substantially as herein described. l

19. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of the frame A, themovableA pieces thereon, the sides of the can-runway carried by saidpieces, and the means for moving said pieces toan d from each other,consisting of the right and left hand screws, the longitudinal shaft orrod, and the gearing between it and the screws, substantially as hereindescribed.

20. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of the adjustable piecescarrying the sidesl of the can-runway, and the sides of the label-boxcarried by said pieces, whereby the box can be adjusted to receivedifferent widths of labels, substantially as herein described.

IOO

In witness whereof I have hereunto'set my hand.

HENRY ALBERT.'

lVitne'sses:

S. H. NoURsE, J. A. BAYLEss.

